145 



as iiiiiuy acres and jirodiu'cd nearly two and one-half times as many 

 bushels of arain as the wheat crop. With corn at 45 cents per bushel 

 tlie -J().()00.()00 bnsliels ])rodueed in 1880 woidd be worth over $20,000,- 

 000, while the 19.r)0f).0()0 bnshels of wheat at DO cents would be worth 

 about irlT.AOO.OOO. If we add the value of the stover and forai^e corn, 

 it is probabh' that from $15,000,000 to $i>0,000,0()0 is a low estimate 

 of the value of tiie annual corn crop of this State. The perfection 

 of the ])rocess of ensiling has made it esjjecially desirable that the 

 Station sliould study the value of corn as a forage crop, both by 

 comi)ai"ing varieties and by observation of the yield and composition 

 at ditl'erent stages of maturity. "The results reached in regard 

 to growth of the crop in its later stages are worth the careful atten- 

 tion of our farmers.'" Many other experiments have shown the 

 rai)id incivase of dry matter j)er acre in later stages of the growth 

 of corn. How far this increase can be utilized for forage is an 

 important (luestion and one upon Avhich further data are desirable. 

 " With our present knowledge, it seemed doubtful whether corn 

 grown for silage should be allowed to stand much longer than until 

 the kernels are bcgiimiing to glaze.'' To secure the largest yields of 

 corn, a variety should be selected wliicli could nearly or fully mature 

 in this locality, and the crop should be permitted to grow until Avell 

 advanced toward maturity. The results of exi)eriments made at this 

 Station on the digestibility of young corn fodder and stover show 

 that while the former is more digestible, the difference is not very 

 great. " The general conclusion to be drawn from our experiments 

 then, as to the projx'r time of harvesting corn is that it should be 

 allowed to stand as long as the climate of the locality aiul the purpose 

 in view will permit, since it is continually increasing in value." 



Analysis and variation of if.i:tilizers, W. Freak, Ph. D. (pp. 

 15-23). — This contains an account of kinds of fertilizers most used 

 as sources of nitrogen, phosphoi-ic acid, and potash, the text of the 

 State law for fertilizer control, and \aluations of fertilizers for 1889. 

 In this State the fertilizer control is conducted by the State Board of 

 Agriculture, who ai)]ioint inspectors to gather samples, whi.ch are sub- 

 mitted for analysis to the chemist of the Station, who is ex officio 

 chemist of the board, llie i)rotits accruing from the analysis are 

 devoted to furthering the work of research. 



RHODE ISr^AXD. 



Rhode Island State Agricultural Experiment Station. 



Drixirtiiiciit (if h'hoilr I.slinnl State AiniciiUiiral School. 



I>nc.iti(,n. Kiiiustoii. Director, Charles O. Flagg, B. S. 



I'.rLLETIX No. 1, MARCH, 1880. 



C)h<;aniza iK'X. ('. (). Fr.Afio, B. S. ( pj). ;)-12). — This contains an 

 account of the use made of the " land grant fund " in this State, the 

 text of the act of Congress of March 2, 1887. for the benefit of the 



